The deadline to register to vote is 22 days prior to the election day, which in 2012 will be October 15.<ref name="va">[http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Voter_Information/Registering_to_Vote/Index.html ''Virgina State Board of Elections'' "Voter Information Registering to Vote" Accessed May 11, 2012]</ref>

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The deadline to register to vote is 22 days prior to the election day, which in 2012 was October 15.<ref name="va">[http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Voter_Information/Registering_to_Vote/Index.html ''Virgina State Board of Elections'' "Voter Information Registering to Vote" Accessed May 11, 2012]</ref>

2012 Elections

Note: Election information listed on this page does not pertain to 2012 presidential elections. For more about Ballotpedia's areas of coverage, click here.For election results in the 50 states, see our November 6, 2012 election results page

You are "primarily and personally responsible for the care of a disabled/ill family member confined at home"

You are pregnant

You are "confined, awaiting trial"

You are "confined, convicted of misdemeanor"

You are an "electoral board member, registrar, officer of election, or custodian of voting equipment"

You "have a religious obligation"

You are an "Active Duty Merchant Marine or Armed Forces"

You are a "spouse or dependent living with" an Active Duty Merchant Marine or Armed Forces member

You are "temporarily residing outside U.S."

You are "temporarily residing outside of U.S. for employment or spouse or dependent residing with employee"

You are "requesting a ballot for presidential and vice-presidential electors only"

You are an "authorized representative of candidate or party serving inside the polling place"

Deadlines

To vote absentee by mail, the deadline to apply is 5 p.m. (EST) on the Tuesday prior to the election. To vote absentee in person, the deadline to apply is the Saturday before the election. The ballot must then be returned by close of polls on election day.[5]

Military and overseas voting

2013 developments

A House subcommittee rejected a bill that would have allowed citizens to vote absentee without requiring a reason for doing so. The reason stated for rejecting the bill was a lack of resources. Win Sowder of the Williamsburg registrar's office said, "This would be a real burden on our office. Our office is really small and early absentee voting would set us up for failure."[6]

However, a different bill by Delegate Daniel W. Marshall, III which would allow voters 65 and older to cast absentee ballots without an excuse was approved.[6]

Voting early

Virginia is one of fourteen states that do not allow early voting. Although it is not technically considered early voting, Virginians may submit an absentee ballot in-person, serving the same purpose as early voting.[7][8]